Global Vendor Manager, Data Center Services

Available Locations: AUSTIN, TX

About the Role

This role focuses on sourcing and onboarding suppliers globally for Data Center services such as data center field services, IT asset disposal services, network provisioning services, logistics support, rack integration support, and service delivery of infrastructure. You will create sourcing plans for each category and quickly deliver these through supplier capability reviews, pre-qualification and onboarding, and master contract negotiations. It is critical that you identify ways to forge partnerships with new suppliers, evaluate suppliers' performance against clearly defined metrics that you will develop or improve together with internal stakeholders, and balance priorities of both Cloudflare and your suppliers to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. You will continually monitor the effectiveness of these new partnerships and take appropriate actions to ensure ongoing competitive sustainability of our supplier markets for upcoming projects.

Key Job Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and execute global sourcing strategies for data center services categories including data center field services, IT asset disposal, network provisioning, logistics, rack integration, and infrastructure service delivery


• Build and maintain robust supplier portfolios across multiple geographies to support Cloudflare's expanding data center footprint


• Conduct comprehensive market research and supplier landscape analysis to identify emerging vendors and benchmark existing supplier performance

Supplier Lifecycle Management

• Lead end-to-end supplier onboarding process from identification through contract execution


• Perform supplier capability reviews, pre-qualification assessments, and due diligence to ensure vendors meet Cloudflare's technical, operational, and compliance standards


• Negotiate master service agreements, statements of work, and pricing frameworks that deliver competitive total cost of ownership while maintaining service quality

Performance Management & Governance

• Design, implement, and continuously improve supplier performance scorecards and KPIs in collaboration with internal stakeholders


• Establish regular business review cadences with strategic suppliers to monitor performance, address gaps, and drive continuous improvement


• Manage supplier risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for business continuity

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with Data Center Operations, Infrastructure Engineering, Logistics, and Procurement teams to understand requirements and translate them into sourcing strategies


• Serve as the primary point of contact for data center services procurement, ensuring clear communication between internal teams and external suppliers


• Drive cross-functional alignment on supplier selection, performance issues, and contract negotiations

Continuous Improvement

• Monitor supplier market dynamics, pricing trends, and industry best practices to maintain competitive sourcing strategies


• Identify process improvement opportunities to increase sourcing efficiency, reduce cycle times, and enhance supplier experience


• Develop and maintain category playbooks, sourcing templates, and negotiation strategies

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or equivalent work experience in the field


• 5+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supplier management, preferably within technology, infrastructure, or related industries


• Demonstrated experience negotiating commercial agreements and managing supplier relationships end-to-end


• Solid understanding of procurement processes, including sourcing, contracting, and supplier onboarding


• Proven ability to develop and track supplier performance metrics and service level agreements


• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results on time


• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail


• Effective communication and interpersonal skills; able to collaborate across teams and influence without direct authority


• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, global environment with distributed teams and suppliers


• Proficiency in Google Workspace applications and familiarity with procurement or ERP systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or equivalent work experience in the field


• Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, CSCP, or equivalent


• 7+ years of experience in strategic sourcing with direct experience in data center services categories (data center field services, IT asset disposal, network provisioning, logistics, rack integration, or infrastructure service delivery)


• Proven track record of developing category strategies and driving complex, multi-million-dollar sourcing initiatives from inception to completion


• Deep familiarity with data center operations and the ability to evaluate technical supplier capabilities against operational requirements


• Experience working in hyperscale, high-growth technology, or cloud infrastructure environments


• Advanced skills in total cost of ownership (TCO) modeling, cost optimization, and financial analysis


• Knowledge of international trade regulations, import/export requirements, and regional compliance standards across multiple geographies


• Hands-on experience with e-procurement platforms, supplier management software, and procurement analytics tools


• Experience managing supplier risk assessments, business continuity planning, or disaster recovery programs